Back to
Kayaking
main page
Kayaking Travel Article Page 1 of 2
More Kayaking...
For more information, see this
CNN video clip or read
Watertrail: The Hidden Path Through Puget Sound by Joel W. Rogers.
Kayaking Travel Articles
Anacortes to Orcas Island
Crescent Bay - Surf Kayaking
Hope Island to Saxon Island
Indian Island
San Juan Island to Stuart Island
Squaxin Island
Sea Kayaking Guides and Outfitters
San Juan Islands Outfitters
Sea Kayaking Clubs and Organizations
Index of Go Northwest! travel articles.
Your Views
Do you have a kayaking story? We would love to hear from you. Write to us at
info@gonorthwest.com and we will add your tips to this page.
Submit an Article
We always want to hear from people who travel or live in the
Northwest. Submit your own original work to Go Northwest! See our
Guidelines for writers.
Puget Sound Visitor Information
Washington Travel Regions and Maps
Map
Cascade Mountains
Map
Northeast
Map
Northwest
Map
Olympic Peninsula
Map
Puget Sound
Map
San Juan Islands
Map
South Central
Map
Southeast
Map
Southwest
Travel Article
Kayaking to Hope Island
Kayaking to Puget Sound's Best Kept Secret
Ten years ago, a small island one half mile long and one quarter mile wide was purchased by the State of Washington. This little oasis in the South Puget Sound had been privately owned and protected from major development for generations before becoming one of the newest state parks in Western Washington - Hope Island State Park.
At that time, nearby Squaxin Island had a state park on its southern tip. This strip of beach had a few campsites, picnic tables, and a small dock for small pleasure boats. When Hope Island was purchased, this smaller park was returned to the Squaxin Island Tribe, as the whole of Squaxin Island is a Native American Reservation.
Since then, Hope Island has remained one of Washington State Parks' best kept secrets.
Marine charts and maps still show the now-closed park on Squaxin Island and no park is indicated for Hope Island.
Yet, this park became part of a 140 mile National Recreation Trail known as the Cascadia Marine Trail in 1995. The trail was first established by the state in 1993 through the work of the volunteers of the Washington Water Trails Association.
We decided to take two days to visit Hope Island and paddle around Squaxin Island and see what these wooded and somewhat wild islands have to offer a kayaker.
Click here to read more about the trip, including a paddle with seals and the sight of ancient cedars.
*Note: Squaxin Island is private property. Do not land there without permission from the Squaxin Island Tribe.
Go Northwest!
Bookstore
Best selection of books on the Northwest.
Click here!
Kayaking
Puget Sound & the San Juan Islands by Rob Casey. This book features 60
trips with information on routes, stand up paddling, details on the region's
marine trails, finding launch sites, a 'Routes At-a-glance' chart to choose
a route for your level of fitness, skills, and available time and more.
Order now...
Paddling
Washington: 100 Flatwater and Whitewater Routes in Washington State and the
Inland Northwest by Rich Landers, Dan Hensen, Vern Huser and Doug North.
Find detailed maps, safety instructions and a route comparison chart to
select the right trip level. Water routes in Washington, BC, North Idaho and
Montana are all included.
Order now...
Paddle
Routes of Western Washington: 50 Flatwater Trips for Canoe and Kayak by
Verne Huser. This Mountaineers Book details trip descriptions with
information on locations, distance, time to allow, best season, potential
hazards and shuttle details. River landmarks and launching sites are found
in the maps.
Order now...
Kayak
Routes of the Pacific Northwest Coast: From Northern Oregon to British
Columbia's North Coast, 2nd Edition by Peter McGee and John Dowd.
This guidebook provides detailed information on more than 30 kayak
routes featuring required skill levels, length of trip, hazards,
weather, currents, ferry and air travel, rentals and tours. Eighteen
regions are explored from Oregon to British Columbia.
Order now...
We appreciate your orders. They help keep
Go Northwest! online.
Northwest Books
from . . .
Shopping at
Go Northwest!
